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Friday, May 31, 2013

I love binding quilts. My quilting group, doesn't!!! Most all of the quilts come home with me for hemming. I did NOT make this quilt, but I did FINISH it up!

This was made by my friend Phyllis. It measures 98x110. As you can see, it is a BIG one! Unfortunately, it took the majority of the day......so I didn't get to finish anything else.

A sure sign that summer is here!! The view from my sewing room window has improved. This is just the beginning!!! They come in the red, yellow and peach. Can't wait for the cacophony of colors!

Tomorrow starts the "NEW BLOGGERS BLOG HOP" over at Plum and June's!! It will be so much fun meeting all the other 'new' bloggers out there. Make sure to check it out. It will be through both June and July.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

I have been busy quilting my last 'practice' quilt all day! It has been hard on my back, but I have a fresh cobbler to look forward to!

This is prebaked. The quilt that it is sitting on is a very special quilt. It is all hand sewn from my grandmother! It is about 70 yrs old. Can you believe the vivid colors? My mom could sit and pick out dress fabrics she wore as a child! So special...

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Here is my first attempt at 'meander' quilting! It turned out to be a lot of fun. Thanks for the encouragement Kim!

I decided that I needed to relax and just do it! It is not perfect....but I am pleased!

Had a great time with my NFC Quilting buddies today! Welcome back, Deborah (Simply Miss Luella), I have missed your beautiful smile! Here are pictures of all my quilts that are in various stages of completion. I so appreciate all of the lovely ladies that work so hard to make me look good!!

This one is being prairie stitched. Those are antique flower pot squares that were donated, and I used repro fabrics for the other squares. This is one of my designs!

This one is a collaborative effort between Chris S and myself! It is also being prairie stitched.

This one was so much fun to make! We got a boat load of retro calicoes donated, and this was the pattern I came up with. Doesn't it remind you of the 70's? Makes me want to go on a picnic! It's bright and soft. It is being tied.

Some little boy is going to love to have this quilt for his 'big boy bed'!! It is a variation of a split rail pattern. It is being tied.

I showed you this one a few weeks back. It is huge, 101x101! It is being small stitch quilted. These ladies have their work cut out for them. They do such excellent work!! Yes, it has the bulk of the flower pot squares that were donated. There were just to many for one quilt, so the previous one is more lap sized. This is also a pattern that I designed!

So there you have it, my Wednesday in a nut shell!! It all starts with donations from so many generous hearts. Then I work to make "lemonade out of lemons". There are so many that help to make my "mission" a success!! They all have such willing hearts and such talented hands. Thank you Lord, for these great friends! I LOVE WHAT I DO!!!

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Don't forget the "New Bloggers Blog Hop" coming in June and July!!! This will be a great opportunity to get to know the new bloggers on the block! You can go to Plum and June to find out all of the facts. I can't think of a better way to get inspired and meet new friends.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Miss Strawberry #2. Yes, she has been a pleasure to work with. If you recognize these fabrics.....they are also in Miss Strawberry, #2's more cantankerous younger sister! I have had so much fun quilting and then photographing #2!!

I used freehand wavy lines to quilt her. It went so smoothly. I am really happy with the way she turned out. I also used a 6oz polyester batting this time. She is a lot more cuddly and soft then Miss S #1!

We took a ride to one of the local thrift stores. I had no idea that there would be so many photo opportunities there! I really like the 'Nancy Hines Hospice Thrift Store' in Clovis, CA. They have a ton of venues set up with furniture and knick-knacks! The carpet is even green, it looks like grass for my picnic quilts!!

I am really starting to get the hang of machine quilting. I think I am going to like it as I get more and more comfortable with it!! I have one quilt at the binding stage and another left to quilt and finish. I am hoping to have them ready for Wednesday turn in. I only work on one project at a time, so we shall see.

Hey all, I just want to let you know that Plum and June will be sponsoring the

2013 NEW BLOGGER BLOG HOP!!!

It will be running for 2 months, June and July! You can click on the link above to find out all the facts. I am soooooo excited!! I will be part of this years hop, and I look forward to meeting all of you. What a great way to see what's happening and who's new in our quilting community. Please, visit ALL of the new blogs in this years hop! Your comments are VERY welcomed!!

I hope that all of you had a safe and happy Memorial Day! Thank you, to the "Gold Star Moms" out there. I learned about you on our local radio station today....and can't believe the work you do for others. Thank you for your sacrifices!!!!﻿

Friday, May 24, 2013

Here are the three quilts that I finished up!! I am so excited about the first two.......

The quilting on this quilt is totally OUTSTANDING!! It was machine quilted by Belinda. I hope that you can see the details with this close-up!

I guess you can see it!! I am so glad. She really went all out on this one. Thank you Belinda!!!

Belinda also machine quilted this one. It is hard to tell, but these are all oriental prints with gold on most of the fabrics. The large panel is black and orange koi fish, the rest are all floral. I have a close up, but there are so many different patterns in this one, I can't show them all to you.

I am so sorry that I couldn't get better contrast. There are flowers in the center of each small flowered square. In the large fish panel, she followed the ripples in the water. In the small green border there is a vine and leaf, in the black borders it is meandering and in the outer border it is also meandering. She just went above and beyond...thanks, Belinda!!!

This is a simple flannel baby comforter! It is tied, so it is soooooo soft and fluffy. It is Snoopy and friends.

I have had a great week, considering I am still not back to 'normal' after our great week away! I have some fun new things planned for this next week.

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all of the service men and women who have done so much for our country, to give us our freedom! I so appreciate all that you do and have done for my family and I. Salute to you!!!!!!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I finished and turned in Miss Strawberry!! Yes, she is happily adorned with her new batting, back and binding.

I figure that she will make a great table topper or a picnic quilt! (69x72) When I turned her in, everyone seemed to like her. I'm so glad that I'm finished with her. Guess what??? I was given a new challenge today, Miss Strawberry's older sister!

Yes, I was asked to machine quilt her also. Do you see any resemblance? The ladies at NFQ Quilters decided that she would make a great table topper, and that she needed to be machine quilted. The saving grace is, she is about 22 in. smaller in both directions. That should make it a much simpler task. Remember, I use all donated fabric, so I try to use all of the scraps!

I was also given 4 quilts to hem! They are all quilted and ready for completion. I can't wait to show all of you the finished product. Give me a couple of days, and I will share.

I forgot to show you the Alaskan wall hanging that I have completed. No, I did not sew it within the last 4 days...I pre-ordered this panel at Christmas time. I knew I loved it, and didn't want to chance not being able to find it while we were visiting.

The artist is Barbara Lavalle, and the title of this original work of are is "Kuspuks by the Yard". This wall hanging (24x30) was lovingly prairie stitched by my wonderful and talented friend, Lori. Thank you Lori!!

Monday, May 20, 2013

I didn't actually get any quilting done today, but I did practice. I think hope know I can do this! My plan is to definitely start tomorrow.

My daughter came over today for her first sewing lesson! What a total thrill to have this great opportunity. She wants to learn to quilt, so we started off with the "magic pillow cases".

It is so hard not to do everything for her, but she did an outstanding job! I know that she will be very comfortable with her new Janome very soon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweet baby girl!!

I told you last night, that I would show you my purchases made in Alaska! I am so excited about them. First...

...this wonderful shop is in Ketchikan. It was so bright and welcoming! It is right next to the dock, so it was very easy to find! This particular shop specializes in Alaskana & animal prints in both cotton and flannel. They have dozens of quilts on display, and so many choices. How does one decide on just one quilts worth? I finally narrowed it down to these great MODA fabrics.

I'm not sure what pattern I will use, but I got plenty of each print! Here is the address, just in case you want to visit either in person or on line:

SILVER THIMBLE

5 Salmon Landing

Salmon Landing Market (upstairs)

Ketchikan, AK

They have a second quilt shop right next door that has everything that one could want that is not Alaskan themed.

Next...

It is hard to tell by this photo, but these are all wildlife themed pieces. The pattern is called " I SPY ALASKA with a twist" by Lisa Moore. I bought the kit because I couldn't decide on exactly which animal prints to choose out of the dozens offered! This quilt shop was in Skagway, and I forgot to take pictures of the inside. Here is the address for this shop:

These shops are amazing. They are opened year round, and keep the Alaskan ladies busy! I would encourage you to visit, in person if at all possible. I know that there are many more shops up there, just try googling QUILT SHOPS IN ALASKA, and see what you will find!!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

...I am refreshed and ready to get back to the real world! I took a short time off as you know, and I will show you where I went!

even the airport has quilts on the wall!!

We were in Alaska! Yes, it was very cold, but so beautiful. We had a chance to enjoy all that God has created, and way to much food! It feels so good to be home, but I will say, I already miss all the attention from the great staff on board our Princess cruise.

I had the opportunity to visit three quilts shops. I was inspired everywhere I went. Tomorrow, I will show you the fabric I purchased.

Miss strawberry was so glad to see me. I will start quilting her within the next few days. I hope to have her turned in on Wednesday, OK, maybe next Wednesday. We shall see. I am trying to get back into the rhythm of my everyday doings, and it is not easy.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Let me share a little story with all of you. This morning, while I was working around the house, I heard a little whimper coming from the fabric cupboard in the other room!! What could that be? I went over to the cupboard to see what all the ruckus was...and it was...

miss strawberry clamoring to get out! I was a little surprised to say the least. I know that I have had her in there for several days, and that she hasn't seen the light of day in that time. But I was NOT expecting a protest for this sequestration!

SOOOO - I took her out of her dark hiding place and proceeded to...

...unpin her from her awful, terrible, no good multi-pieced backing and batting! She promptly thanked me for my kindness. I then proceeded to piece the new green pin dot backing so that she would not have to lie around naked! I just couldn't have that.

I promptly pin basted her to her new backing with fresh, unpieced batting! It took a while, but she is all ready to go. I will be quilting her within the next couple of weeks!

Even the strawberry fairies around her outer boarder are smiling in anticipation of completion! I am still questioning what type of quilting I will do. I am still learning how to use my home machine for quilting, so it won't be anything fancy.

OK...truthfully...I just want her done! Yes, I am part of the group of people that have NO patience. I want to move on to a new project, and she is holding me from going forward. Would you believe that I made up the whole thing about - whimpering? My new friend Kim has set me in a storey telling mode, and I want to thank her for that!

I will be 'unpluging' for a bit. My family and I need to regroup and refresh...so I will not have any new entries for a few days. Feel free to re-read some of your favorite postings... .. read my profile.....just make sure to check back for the new adventures of 'A Quilter's Mission'!!!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

I found a new backing for the strawberry quilt! I did notice a flaw when I got home, but I can work around it...

I think she (Miss Strawberry) will appreciate being taken from the closet and completed! That will have to wait. GOAL: to have her completed by the 29th. We shall see.

Working to square up this beautiful small stitched quilt. A UFO that I pieced together.

This is Nancy, she is the worlds best quilt framer!! She works non-stop getting our quilts ready for quilting. Thank you Nancy, for all of your hard work! This quilt will be tied with yellow pearl cotton.

R E M I N D E R ! ! !

Mother's Day is this Sunday! If you are lucky enough to still have your mother, or a mother figure...remember her with a beautiful card!!

I had a great day! I brought home 2 more projects to work on. I love what I do!!!